Wizkid Left Banky W’s EME Record Label Over Money Issue – Sources

Last week, Naija artist Ayo Balogun aka Wizkid announced he has left EME (Empire Mates Entertainment), a Banky W-owned record label for another company. www.naijagists.com

Though he didn’t specify the reason for his decision, sources in the know claim the singer left over money issue.

According to Gist Village, “Wizkid is the backbone of EME music label. The boy (Wizkid) feels that Banky W has been milking too much from him with the large chunk of what Banky W takes from what the boy makes.

A typical example of EME’s costs & income for Wizkid

EME signs Wizkid and pays the following

Advance to Wizkid or equivalent

They pay for the music videos (2 to 5 million per video)

They pay for all radio & tv promotion (millions of naira)

They pay for all online marketing and promotion (featuring on bellanaija.com alone is a 6 to 7 figure amount)

They pay for all air travel costs to shows, award shows, interviews etc.

They pay for club dj marketing

They pay for street distribution

Lets not talk about the nigerian factor & the amount of “brown envelopes” EME has to give out annually to “oil the wheels of success”..some perhaps that Wizkid doesn’t know about.

Its commendable the amount of talent Wizkid has but without the investment of EME in the early days, the influence of the label owners & the business acumen of the label, Wizkid could still have ended up successful, but nowhere near how successful he is now.

EME TAKES 50 PERCENT OF EVERYTIN WIZKID GETS, OSAGIE USED TO TAKE 25 PERCENT AND WIZKID 25. BUT WIZ SAW HOW DAVIDO WAS POPPING INDEPENDENTLY AND MAKING MONIES, SO HE TOOK MATTERS IN HIS OWN HANDS, TOOK OSAGIE OUT, GOT GODWIN TOM, GIVES HIM 10 PERCENT, HE IS TRYING TO REDUCE EME’S 50 PERCENT BUT THEY ARE ACTING UP COS THEY SHOOT HIS VID AND ALL, AND ALL EXPENSES ARE ON THEM. WIZ IS NOT HAPPY. THEY ARE OWING HIM MONIES, FROM THE PEPSI DEAL AND OTHER DEALS. WIZ HAS TAKEN MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS, HE IS PLANNING TO RELEASE AN ALBUM THIS YEAR, BUT THE EME CALENDER IS DISRUPTING HIM COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT EME DOES NOT WANT TO BULGE ON THE PERCENTAGE AND THE MONIES THEY OWE HIM. THIS IS BUSINESS. WIZ MIGHT LEAVE, BANKY IS GETTING PEOPLE TO TALK TO HIM. BANKY IS NOT THE OWNER OF EME, JUST A DIRECTOR, THERE ARE OTHER PPLE INCLUDING SEGUN AND CO

“Wizkid has asked for an improved contract because the present one allocates much of Wizkid’s earnings to Banky W. You know when you are coming up, you sign any kind of deal because you just want to climb stardom.

“That is the situation the boy finds himself but Banky felt hurt that Wizkid could ask for an improved offer after what he (Banky W) has done for him.

“This was the beginning of the problem between them. The boy even threatened to leave the label sometimes ago but Banky W felt it was a joke. He took it with a pinch of salt. Now, he is at a crossroad and confused on what to do,” a source said

Wizkid’s mum waded into the matter but Wizkid reportedly ignored his mum advice and stood his ground on leaving the label. “Wizkid’s mum has also tried to talk sense to her son but it seems the guy (Wizkid) is bent on moving on with his life.”

Eme owes wiz bt wiz also az a point for example at d end ov d dae he gts only 25% ov wat he worked 4 nd at d sametime he iz nt readt 2 build hiz own record he should av said dis wen he waz readi in odawrds he z rite.

If Wizz feels its time for him to steup on his own, so be it but Never dis-respect the people that gave you your first opportunity. There are many Wizz kids out there but unfortunately they have no Opportunities. Wizz Kid, make sure you leave on a good note. Peace

Yes Eme gave Wizkid fame nd money nd 4 years wizkid av given eme money” what they av 2 do is” sit down nd av a nyc conversation that wil favour both of them” cos nobody wil love to be under fire always!

@icedropz put ur tongue where u mouth is bwoyy,banky took advantage of d fact dat he is young nd a rookie,he knew hw much he wuld suck frm him dats why he invested in him so to him wizzy is a buisness merchandise and dat ain’t ryt..

hmmmmm wizkid must be stupid because that guy brought him up to that level he’s now, so i don’t see any reason why he decided to pay that man back in such an arogance mannner.well i don’t blame him because he see davido poping and making money that is why he is jealous about it.shame on him.

Wizkid should calm down ,I think if he was in Banky’s Shoe he would do the same, this is business nobody wants to loose , I believe you should have a re-think together then put things right to favor both side , dont bite the finger that fed you till date !

Ok, If by any chance Wizkid reads this, this is what I have to say: First, Davido, is rich, his father’s rich, he literally has almost nothing to lose in terms of money. You wizkid, You do. Remember that. You brought yourself up with pure talent and we thank god for that, never lose sight of why you started music in the first place. Was it because of money ? Or because you enjoyed it. Davido seems like one of them lucky dudes, yeah sounds silly but that’s how I see it. Banky W brought you up out of nowhere, but don’t be silly just yet, just because TT signed you >< Your true fanbase is Niaja ! NOT UK …ok maybe a small part, but Nigeria is where it is for you and I love that. Make sure you leave knowing you can stand on your own two feet even without the help of TT …If it were me …yeah i'd feel pissed but I'd make sure I can stand on my own two feet. K

Whatsoever that is meant to be will be. We all lives in accordance to God’s will. Follow ur heart AYO, be focused, don’t relent on what motivates U in to music. If its money, make lots of it while u can but in a pure and cheatless ways.
Cos money makes lots of things happen coupled with good behavior, tolerant and decency. Banky W has played his part in ur life. He’s not ur God, he’s just God sent. So always appreciate him and be thankful.

yea smtymz tinz happened 4 a reason itz might soundz disrespectful 4 him leaving his bozz but d young blood knwz wat he sawz we can just judge out of ignorance,but 4 watever i wish d both partiez best of luck in all activitiez.

i feel you man is time to grow,pls remember how you started and remember all the up coming artist that are on the street strugling every day.Am a rapa i rap lyk olamide if you need any rapa lyk olamide to sign in your new record label pls call me:08035196156 my stage name is kennyx

Wizzy d advice I have for you is to carry on wiith your life!
If you return to EME something bad may happen to your talent
banky w won’t care about you.. All he will runin is for him to make
money from you….don’t believe if you come back you will Rain again like
you are now……I don’t mean you should not have deal with him
but you must chose wisely!!!
For more conversation follow me on Twitter @horlah_ybnl
I can’t continue with you here..so let’s talk in private!!! Chose wisely

Banky… U dnt hav 2 beg him, if he(wizkid) would b able 2 recall his senses he would discern dat u were d one dat made him precisely wot he is 2day despite his talent. If he decides 2 leave d Eme record label gud, jst believe dat sm1 else might b capable of takin his place in da record label if u wil b able 2 do d same u’ve done 4 wizkid.

Hmmm,firstly,d boy has d rite 2 do wat plses him,as far as he can do it well wit no regret in d future
Secondly,by so doin he shuldnt bite d fingers dat fed him bcoz many artiste are lookin 4 d opportunity 2 b signed,plenty talent dey waste 4 street evryday,I’m an artiste too all dis brake up his affecting us one way or d other coz some sponsors are scared or afraid

Boy…trust me wizzy, you just did the best thing ,(look at Davido) please get on cause we dey for u,please get your label established,and do the right thing, I am an artist myself, though one can actually sign any contract to get to get out there but that doesn’t mean it should continue forever,for me 25% is just too bad ,if the terms and condition is no longer favorable,then get out of there, honestly from the bottom of my heart 25% not not good enough for his status, in life one needs promotion and one can not serve as a slave forever and moreover ,if wizzy,song has never crossed the boarders of Nigeria ,that way eme could capitalized on that but hes songs as gone beyond and as resin from glory to glory ,honestly wizy you deserve more now than before ,if not 50% but if they can not offer that….then eme should go to hell….cause for now you are the eye and the power and the money making machine for eme